Watch cap to crochet

Markers, optional (you don’t need them if you can read your stitches, but variegated or textured yarns can be difficult to read. It may be handy to use markers until you are comfortable with the stitch) – 4 markers in 1 color, a 5th marker in a different color to indicate beginning of round.

Note: If there is no number given with a stitch, just do one of it – so ‘sc’ means ‘sc 1’.
Note: The sample hat uses a bulky weight yarn and a big hook, so the fabric comes out more open than it would if you used a smaller yarn and smaller hook.

Pattern stitch (stitch in the round): Set up a base of (2sc, ch1) around, ending with ch1. *Sc in next sc. Ch1. Sc in next sc. Skip next ch. Repeat from *.

What happens from one row/round to the next is that you sc ONLY into the sc – NEVER into a ch – except in round 2, when the pattern stitch hasn’t started yet. The chain stitches are fillers that make the fabric more dense and also prevent the sc from stretching out of shape the way sc does if unattended. So you sc into the sc before and after a ch, then ch. It makes a dense fabric that is good for washcloths, too. But here it is a hat.

To increase: (sc, ch, sc) in the next sc.

To start: ch3, slip stitch in last ch to form a ring.
Round 1: (ch1, sc in ring) 5 times. Ch1. Place round-beginning marker in first sc to mark beginning of round. Remember to move the marker each round to the first stitch worked in the marked stitch.
Round 2: Work into the chain stitches in just this round, as follows (the pattern stitch hasn’t started yet). [(Sc (attach marker to this stitch), ch, sc) in next sc – increase made. Sc in next ch] around 1 time. 5 increase points set up.

Now the pattern stitch starts:
Round 3: *Inc in marked st, moving marker to first sc of increase. (Sk ch, sc in next sc, ch, sc in next sc) to next marker, ending with ch. Repeat from * around.

wrong side facing

Round 4: *Inc in marked st, moving marker to first sc of increase. (Sk ch, sc in next sc, ch, sc in next sc) to next marker, ending with sc. Repeat from * around.

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 for a total of 7 rounds from the beginning, until there are 39 sc around (59 stitches, including the chain stitches), ending with ch1 before the next marked stitch.

Laid flat and stretched just a little, the piece should measure 7” across for an adult size (or 5” across for a baby size, 6” across for a child size, or 8” across for a tea cozy size). If you decide to work more or fewer rounds, stop increasing after a repeat of round 3 for the stitches to work out right.

From here on, continue in pattern, with no more increases: (sc in next sc, sk ch, sc in next sc, ch) around and around until hat is desired length or until only a few inches of yarn are left. Slip stitch in the next 3 stitches to smooth the edge. Fasten off and tuck in loose ends.